MUSCATINE, Iowa – Residual vapor from two liquid petroleum (LP) cylinders located just north of the HON Oak Steel plant, 301 Oak Street, Muscatine, will be burned off next week according to Mike Hartman, Muscatine Assistant Fire Chief.
The two tanks have been drained of their contents and will eventually be moved. However, there is residual vapor that must be dealt with before moving the cylinders and a company has been contracted to empty and move those containers.
As part of this process the vapor will be safely eliminated by being flared off according to National Fire Protection Association code. The flaring device is a tripod that will be set up 25 feet from the combustibles. The flame generated will be four to five feet high, and there will be some noise associated with the burn.
The contracted company anticipates starting the flaring at 7 a.m. Tuesday (Feb. 19) depending on the weather, and the flaring will continue for two to three days. The flaring will only be conducted between 7 a.m. and 6:30-7:00 p.m. each day. Since it is LP it will burn clean and there should be no smoke associated with the flaring. There will a person attending the device the entire time it is being used.
Barricades will be in place to cordon off the area around the flare. No street closures are planned.
The tanks are tentatively scheduled to be removed by semi-trailer during the middle of March. There is a change that vapor pressure could increase by the time the move occurs and more flaring would need to be done before the tanks are moved.